A Beautiful Durango Hook-Neck Eagle

Lot 1316
Mexico - Durango. 8 Reales, 1824-Do-RL. Hubbard & O'Harrow Die pairings no. L9-N5. DP-Do01; KM 376. Hooknecked-eagle. Slightly uneven strike, with typical modest weakness at centers, yet with full "Liberty" on cap. Fields lustrous and very clean. Toned light gray, with vivid gold, reds, greens and blues towards edges. About Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,500.
Several different experts have looked at this coin and agree that it is the Finest Known for this variety.

A Near Perfect Hook-Neck

Lot 1317
Mexico - Mexico City. 8 Reales, 1824-Mo-JM. Hubbard & O'Harrow die pairings, both unlisted; KM 376.2. Hooknecked-eagle. Sharp, bold strike, with almost full details at eagle's center. Fields especially clean and proof-like. With slight faint toning. Brilliant Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $3,500-4,500.
An exemplary specimen of one of the more common Mexico City hooknecks. A true Uncirculated coin that was not originally identified in the Hubbard & O'Harrow book.

Exceptional and Rare Overdate

Lot 1318
Mexico - Zacetecas. 8 Reales, 1828-Zs-AO, 8/7 Overdate. Die Style 1825-1842. Cap and Rays. Extremely to Excessively Rare, with less than 10 known examples. A very good strike, with close to a full eagle. Some scattered minor to modest porosity in the fields. Some light hairlines, but considered by D & P as a solid Uncirculated specimen. White, with faint retoning. Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,750.
This coin was in Dunigan & Parker's Reslpandores as a variety plate coin. Because no other 8/7 overdate that is known grades better than Very Fine plus, this may be the finest known for the overdate, and perhaps for the entire DAM in general.

Possibly the Finest Known

Lot 1320
Mexico - Chihuahua. 8 Reales, 1840-Ca-RG. Die style of 1840, Single Period after Date. Medal Axis. DP-Ca11; KM 377.2. Cap and rays. One year type. Very rare. Well above average striking, with bold cap and only modest weakness to eagle. Both sides shows some overstriking, or double striking. Considerable luster to obverse fields. With splendid pink-gray to rich golds, coppers and lime green toning. Almost Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.
There are two distinctly different 8 Reales minted in Chihuahua in 1840. This coin is the first, a unique one year type. Classed as Very Rare by Dunigan & Parker, they also mention that due to die damage, the first die style is never well struck at the centers, and has legend weaknesses, especially at the date. Here, the date is bold and clear, while the snake across the eagle is perfectly legible -- making this specimen surely one of the finest known.

Rare Date Guadalajara in Extraordinary Condition

Lot 1321
Mexico - Guadalajara. 8 Reales, 1863-Ga-FV. Die Style of 1845-1870. DP-Ga46; Km 377.6. Cap and Rays. Extremely to Excessively Rare, with less than 10 known examples. A very good strike for series, with moderate flatness to eagle and cap. Some light hairlines, and an edge planchet flaw at 5 o'clock. Faintly toned, with very evident mint luster. Probably the finest known example. Almost Mint State.
Estimated Value $10,000-15,000.
This is the second rarest date of the Guadalajara series, and the only issue known with this assayer. This may well be the coin referred to in the description of the chopmarked Parker example, where a reference was made to, "All but one of the specijmens of this date known to the cataloger bear chopmarks." All the more amazing as this coin was among a large cash of Mexican coins that had been accumulated in China. This coin far superior to the Parker specimen. A once in a lifetime opportunity for the advanced collector.

A Very Rare Mintmark Type

Lot 1322
Mexico - Oaxaca. 8 Reales, 1863- "A" over "O" - AE. Die Style Unique to this Issue, Normal Eagle of 1863. DP-Oa11; Km 377.11. Cap and Rays. Very rare. A high quality, tack sharp strike for series, with moderate flatness to eagle and cap. Some adjustment marks on the obverse, and a few modest handling marks. Lightly toned in russets and blues along the edges, with residual mint luster. A problem free and appealing example of this one year type. Extremely Fine plus.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,500.
Very Rare as a date, and important as a one year mintmark type. There are two varieties to this unique series, with this coin having the normal-style eagle of 1863. According to Dunigan & Parker this was the last issue to be struck at the city's first Republican mint. Subsequent issues would see operations moved to another location in Oaxaca.

A Rarity in Exceptional Condition

Lot 1323
Mexico - Hermosillo. 8 Reales, 1864 Ho-PR. No Period after P. DP-Ho05 var.; KM 377.8 var. Cap and Rays. Very Rare to Extremely Rare, although slightly more available than the 1864 FM date. Sharp, bold strike, with almost full details at eagle's center. Slight adjustment marks at obverse, along with beginning die breaks along reverse periphery. Fields especially clean and proof-like. With faint edge toning. Choice Brilliant Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $4,000-6,000.
Lacking the period after the P, this variety was unknown to Dunigan & Parker, making it a further rarity on top of an already rare date. This coin is certainly finer than the plate coin in D & P's Resplandores, which then was considered the finest known. A most desirable coin for the 8 Reales specialist.

A Choice Rare Date Culican 1866

Lot 1324
Mexico - Culican. 8 Reales, 1866-C-CE. Die Style of 1858-1870, Five Point Star. DP-Cn23; KM 377.3. Cap and Rays. Very Rare to Extremely Rare. Good strike on obverse, with the eagle moderately soft on reverse. Coin white, the fields very clean, and brimming with luster. Choice Uncirculated.
Estimated Value $3,000-4,000.
This is the most available date of this rare year, and the key to any year set. Again, this coin is among the finest known, and while the weakness at the eagle might be considered detracting, nevertheless it is understandable knowing the conditions under which it was struck. Culican was the only Mexican mint not to fall to Maximilian's Imperial forces.